One of Carlo Ancelotti's opening games for Chelsea is against the club he coached for eight years - and now the match against Reading will see the team take on former reserve manager Brendan Rodgers.

Chelsea face AC Milan in Baltimore on Friday 24 July when Ancelotti will pit his wits against many of the players he led to third place in Serie A last season.

On top of that the Blues come up against our former manager José Mourinho when Milan's city rivals Inter are the opposition in Pasadena, California three days earlier.

Now today's (Thursday) news that Brendan Rodgers has left Watford for Reading means Chelsea's pre-season fixture away to the Royals on 1 August will have another ex-employee sub-plot.

Rodgers (pictured below), a former youth and reserve team manager at Chelsea, left to take charge of the senior side at Watford in November and led the Hertfordshire club from relegation danger to 13^th in the Championship.

He was also in charge for their 3-1 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea at Vicarage Road.

Rodgers rejoins Reading where he was Academy and youth team manager prior to his Chelsea spell.

Ticket details for Reading v Chelsea have yet to be confirmed but kick-off is 3pm.

The start of Chelsea's pre-season will see the team take on Seattle Sounders in Seattle on Saturday 18 July before competing in the 2009 World Football Challenge which contains the Milan and Inter games.

Chelsea's tournament schedule is:

Tuesday, July 21
Chelsea FC vs. FC Internazionale Milano at the Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
11 pm EST on ESPN2 (4am July 22 UK time on Chelsea TV)

Friday, July 24
AC Milan vs. Chelsea FC at M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore, Md.)
8 pm EST on ESPN (1am July 25 UK time on Chelsea TV)

Sunday, July 26
Chelsea FC vs. Club America at Cowboy Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
7 pm EST on ESPN2 (Midnight [00:00 hours July 27] UK time on Chelsea TV)

Match tickets are available at www.worldfootballchallenge.com